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12.12.2016

From the news: A heart wrenchingly sad, yet sweet story. Santa holds a dying little boy in his arms; granting his last wish to meet Santa.

I had a few minutes break so I jumped online to read the news.
Bypassing the regular 'crap' I had no interest in muddying my happy brain with, I saw a Santa story that piqued my interest.
Oh my goodness! Heartbreaking yet sweet at the same time.

I cried.

There are many sources for the story - I actually read it in 4 places (because all media outlets spoon-feed the story to you differently and include different details).

This 'Santa' is actually named Eric Schmitt Matzen (who looks every bit the Santa Claus) normally dons a red suit and makes appearances during the holidays playing the jolly old elf. He’s professionally trained and wears a custom-tailored Santa suit - but his white beard and hair is all his. He was born on Dec. 6 which is pretty cool considering that’s Saint Nicholas Day.

Although he regularly visits up to 80 different events as Santa Claus every year, he had to play a different role this year. A heart wrenching role when he was called to the hospital to visit a dying little boy.

“I told her, ‘OK, just let me change into my outfit.’

She said, ‘There
isn’t time for that.

Your Santa suspenders are good enough.

Come right
now.’ ”

“I’d just gotten home from work that day.”

“The telephone rang. It was a nurse I know who works at the hospital. She said there was a very sick 5-year-old boy who wanted to see Santa Claus.

Schmitt-Matzen got to the hospital in 15 minutes. He met the lad’s mother and several family members.

“She’d bought a toy from (the TV show) PAW Patrol and wanted me to give it to him,” he said, voice growing husky. “I sized up the situation and told everyone, ‘If you think you’re going to lose it, please leave the room. If I see you crying, I’ll break down and can’t do my job.’ ”

Nobody entered with him. They watched, sobbing, from a hallway window in the Intensive Care Unit.

“When I walked in, he was laying there, so weak it looked like he was ready to fall asleep. I sat down on his bed and asked, ‘Say, what’s this I hear about you’re gonna miss Christmas? There’s no way you can miss Christmas! Why, you’re my Number One elf!

“He looked up and said, ‘I am?’

“I said, ‘Sure!’

“I gave him the present. He was so weak he could barely open the wrapping paper. When he saw what was inside, he flashed a big smile and laid his head back down.

‘“They say I’m gonna die,’ he told me. ‘How can I tell when I get to where I’m going?’

“I said, ‘Can you do me a big favor?’

“He said, ‘Sure!’

“When you get there, you tell ’em you’re Santa’s Number One elf, and I know they’ll let you in.

“I wrapped my arms around him. Before I could say anything, he died right there. I let him stay, just kept hugging and holding on to him.

“Everyone outside the room realized what happened. His mother ran in. She was screaming, ‘No, no, not yet!’ I handed her son back and left as fast as I could.

“I spent four years in the Army with the 75th Rangers, and I’ve seen my share of (stuff). But I ran by the nurses’ station bawling my head off. I know nurses and doctors see things like that every day, but I don’t know how they can take it.’”

In despair, Schmitt-Matzen was ready to hang up his suit. “I’m just not cut out for this,” he reasoned.

But he mustered the strength to work one more show.

“When I saw all those children laughing, it brought me back into the fold. It made me realize the role I have to play.

“For them and for me.”

Many sources:http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/12/11/cried-all-way-home-santa-claus-grants-final-wish-dying-child/95315536/http://www.walb.com/story/34030055/santa-grants-terminally-ill-boys-last-wish-child-dies-in-his-armshttp://kdvr.com/2016/12/12/tennessee-santa-grants-final-wish-to-child-who-died-in-his-arms/http://myfox8.com/2016/12/12/i-cried-all-the-way-home-santa-claus-grants-final-wish-to-child-who-died-in-his-arms/

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It's Just the Coffee Talking

Chatting over morning coffee around the kitchen table since 2004.

Previously full of stories of Mommyhood and Mayhem of humorous family life - the kids are older and life isn't at the same crazy yet hilarious pace it was then. As my kids get older and start to leave the nest, life is quieter and I have more time to enjoy the coffee.

Currently blogging more about the news, dogs, coffee and coffee reviews as well as a little bit of rambling about emergency preparedness, food storage and other gear. I post what I feel like posting... if I tend to go on a little bit, don't mind me, it's just the coffee talking.

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